Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 15:25

"But [this cometh to pass], that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause." — John 15:25 (ASV)

The sin of Jesus’ enemies was both deliberate and inexcusable. Accredited by the miracles that he had performed and the words he had spoken, he condemns them (cf. 9:30–33, 39–41). Consequently, their reaction against him cannot be attributed to ignorance of his words or to lack of evidence substantiating them. To further explain his position, Jesus quotes from Ps 69:4. The irony of this quotation is clear: those who posed as the champions of the Law were fulfilling the prophecy concerning the enemies of God’s servant.